Peperoncino Festival
Every September, in its second weekend, from Wednesday-Sunday, the picturesque cliffside town of Diamante, in the province of Cosenza, welcomes hundreds of thousands of people world-wide to help celebrate what is now called the Diamante Peperoncino Festival. One hundred and fifty stands are set up and more than fifty thousand sandwiches and ten thousand liters of beer are sold and distributed. It’s no surprise, this time of year is harvest season where Italy produces its exquisite bounty that has won the world over. The weather is ideal for visiting and most summer tourists have already left to return to their daily lives back home.
In 1992, a man named Enzo Monaco thought to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ contribution to Europe (particularly South Italy since it was a Spanish dominion) by having brought many new world fruits and vegetables; including the almighty peperoncino (chili pepper) that was brought to the continent from Central America (all capsicums come from Central America). Enzo titled the event “1492-1992 Five Hundred Spicy Years.” There were no academic seminars involved with this new and fun event, only celebrations without any entrance fees.
The event was a huge success. It was supposed to be a "one-time event" but, the following year it already became a Festival. Two years later the Chili Academy was born in Diamante and took on the task of organizing it every year to make it "the most important gastronomic event in all of Calabria."
Every year, new collaborations and initiatives are formed. Contacts were established with many universities and with all the cities in Europe that promote chili-inspired initiatives. Hand in hand, the Festival became what it is today. A cultural and gastronomic event that brings hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world to the spiciest Italian region: Calabria.
Over the years, as more initiatives were introduced, the event began including most things spicy related such as art, photography, cinema, theater and satire. 2022’s Chili Festival involved celebrating Pier Paolo Pasolini’s films (a rather spicy figure himself who actually directed a few films in Calabria).
One of the most important events at national and international level dedicated to chilli peppers, the Diamante Peperoncino Festival includes entertainment, tastings, exhibitions, conferences, screenings and the Italian Chilli Eaters' Championship, intended for the truly resistant spicy head palates.
A plate of fileja pasta with fresh chili peppers on the side. You eat the peppers like you would bread. This is a very Calabrian way of eating.
Cooking shows take place throughout the festival and feature prominent Italian and international chefs. It's a great way to watch chefs preparing recipes and to learn how to use peperoncini in different recipes.
Local restaurants always have stands at the Peperoncino Festival. Offering plates like Crostata del Diavolo (Italian crostata prepared with a mixture of hot pepper jam and fruit jam, usually with citrus fruit like Calabria’s very own bergamot).
Enzo Monaco is the driving force and soul behind the annual Peperoncino Festival, The chili pepper is truly revered throughout Calabria and this festival is just one clear example on how Calabrians take their peperoncini, love of chili peppers, very seriously.
Enzo Monaco is also the founder of the Accademia del Peperoncino (the Italian Peperoncino Academy) and author of Peperoncino Amore Mio (Peperoncino My Love), a book full of history, recipes, photographs and more all about chili peppers. You can buy the book on Amazon.
Gallery of images from the peperoncini festivals past. It truly is a unique festival that can only be found in Calabria.
In general, Italians add peperoncini to their food throughout Italy. However, the peperoncino is an absolute mainstay, the absolute defining characteristic, in Calabrian cuisine. So much so, it is celebrated every September in the coastal town of Diamante during an almost weeklong festival. If you’re heading to Calabria this month, definitely check out this festival. It’s a lot of fun and you’ll learn so much of the incredibly unique cuisine that defines this regional Italian gem.
2026 Peperoncino Festival runs from 9/09/2026 - 9/13/2026